Patrick Barclay: He's not perfect but it makes perfect sense for Chelsea to keep John Terry

Captain, leader and living legend he may be, much loved at Stamford Bridge, but to state that John Terry is not the most universally popular of footballers would be to contend for the Sybil Fawlty Prize for Utterance of the Bleedin’ Obvious.

Confirmation that Chelsea have given him a new deal is nevertheless thoroughly welcome. One-club men are a rare and wonderful thing and even though Terry, like Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, has been linked with the possibility of a move — Terry to Manchester City, Gerrard to Chelsea — each remains at the club of his heart, as symbol and inspiration to others to commit to the cause.

Jose Mourinho is wise to keep him. It’s in no way a sentimental gesture. That Chelsea are lucky to have Terry was emphasised in the Premier League season just finished as he performed with more consistent excellence than any other central defender except, perhaps, his sidekick Gary Cahill, who would probably admit to having benefited from their partnership.

Frank Lampard is another with no need to kiss the badge for it to be known where his affections lie. So let’s hope he stays, too. Ashley Cole may feel that omission from the World Cup squad can only help him to prove next season that he is still a top-drawer left-back and it would be understandable if he chose to do that elsewhere.

But there is a lot to be said for continuity and, while Terry and Lampard are around the Bridge, the image of Chelsea as choppers and changers is only half the story.

When they have a manager like Mourinho who can control and channel player power, it works. Compare and contrast with Spurs, who, having sacked Andre Villas-Boas because he was supposed to have lost the dressing room, now do the same with Tim Sherwood. Players can be destructive moaners. And Terry, though by no means perfect, is the other type.